OFFENSE (A-)

The loss of center Peter Konz (dislocated ankle) put a damper on the victory and puts redshirt sophomore Ryan Groy on the spot. Groy is athletic and smart and should be able to fill the void in the final two regular-season games and likely beyond. Quarterback Russell Wilson and tailback Montee Ball both are worthy of Heisman Trophy consideration. Neither player will win the award but that can't detract from how well they are playing. Wide receiver Nick Toon returned to form and after the victory coach Bret Bielema acknowledged Toon (foot) hasn't been fully healthy.

DEFENSE (A)

No matter what happens the rest of the season, two plays will stand out - the touchdown passes surrendered in consecutive losses to Michigan State and Ohio State. What those losses have obscured is that UW's defense has been above average for most of the season. UW is second in the Big Ten in yards allowed (280.4 per game) and third in points allowed (15.8 per game). That figure is only 2.9 points behind league leader Penn State. The defensive linemen maintained their rush lanes Saturday and contained a mobile quarterback in MarQueis Gray. Mike Taylor fought through knee pain to record a team-high 13 tackles. The secondary was solid throughout.

SPECIAL TEAMS (F)

The search continues for a few good men who can make it through a game without allowing a big kickoff return. In the last three weeks, UW has allowed returns of 42, 49, 74, 45 and 96 yards out of 18 returns. This isn't a news flash to the coaches and players, but those numbers are unacceptable. Players appear to be blowing their lanes, failing to defeat blocks and tackling poorly. UW had the fake field-goal attempt defended, but cornerback Antonio Fenelus missed a tackle he usually makes.

COACHING (B)

The breakdowns on the kickoff-coverage unit bring this grade down. UW's offense was sharp and the defense held Minnesota's offense to its lowest yardage output of the season (156). Give the staff credit for keeping the players focused and confident after the back-to-back losses. With two victories and help from Nebraska and Purdue, UW now has a clear path to the Big Ten title game. Remarkable.